Kenya Polytechnic University College

Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering

CAT I - EEE 224: Mechanics of Machines October 2010 Instructions to Candidates: Attempt any TWO of the following FOUR questions; all questions carry equal marks Q1. a) What do you understand by gyroscopic couple? Derive a formula for its magnitude. [5 marks] b) Explain the importance of balancing rotating and reciprocating masses in an engine. [3 marks] c) A rotating shaft carries four masses, A, B, a and D, rigidly attached to it, the mass centres are at 30 mm, 36 mm, 39 mm and 35 mm respectively from the axis of rotation,. A, and D are 7 kg, 5 kg and 4 kg; the axial distance between A and B is 500 mm and that between B and a is 600 mm; the eccentricities of A and C are at 90 to one another. Find, for complete balance, (a) the angles between A, B and D; (b) the axial distance between the planes of revolution of C and D, and (c) the mass B. [12 marks] Q2. a) Write short notes on the following: i) Kinematic pair; ii) Kinematic chain; iii) Degrees of freedom and the criterion for determining them, and iv) Hookes joint. [10 marks] b) An engine mechanism shown below, has a crank CB = 120mm and a connecting rod BA = 300mm with a centre of gravity G, 120mm from B. In the position shown, the crankshaft has a speed of 25 rad/s and an angular acceleration of 400 rad/s2. Calculate the velocity and angular acceleration of G and angular velocity and angular acceleration of AB. If the engine reciprocating masses are equivalent 2Kg, calculate the inertia force. [10 marks]

Q3. a) Derive an expression for the inertia force (F) on the piston due to the engine reciprocating masses (R) in terms of crank radius (r), connecting rod length (l), and crank angle (). [6 marks] b) The crank-pin circle radius of a horizontal engine is 300mm. The mass of the reciprocating parts is 240 kg. When the crank has traveled 60 from I.D.C., the difference between the driving and the back pressures is 350KN/m2. The connecting rod length between centres is 1000mm and the cylinder bore is 500mm. If the engine runs at 250 r.p.m. and if the effect of piston rod diameter is neglected, calculate: i) side thrust on the cylinder, ii) Thrust in the connecting rod, iii) Tangential force on the crank-pin, and iv) Turning moment on the crank shaft. [14 marks] Q4. a) The variation of crankshaft torque of a 4-cylinder petrol engine may be approximately represented by taking the torque as zero for crank angles 0 and 180 and as 260 N-m for crank angles 30 and 60, the intermediate portions of the torque graph being straight lines. The cycle is repeated in every half-revolution. The average speed is 600rev/min with a total variation of speed of 1 per cent. If the engine drives a machine requiring a constant torque, determine the mass of the flywheel, of radius of gyration 240 mm, which must be fitted. [10 marks] b) An epicyclic train has a sun-wheel with 35 teeth and two planet wheels of 20 teeth, the latter meshing with the internal teeth of a fixed annulus. The input shaft, carrying the sun-wheel, transmits 4KW at 400rev/min. The output shaft is connected to an arm which carries the planet wheels. If the overall efficiency is 85%, determine: i) The speed of the output shaft, ii) The torque transmitted, iii) The annulus speed, if when it is rotated independently the output shaft rotates at 50rev/min. [10 marks] ./CMM/10/2010.